Cell surface damage in cultured mammalian cells with synchrotron radiation at 160 nm

Cultured mammalian cells (HeLa) were allowed to attach to a membrane filter and were irradiated with 160 nm synchrotron radiation. Some of the cells became detached from the membrane filter during irradiation before post-irradiation incubation at 370C. The cells remaining attached to the membrane filter were released by trypsinization, collected and examined for dye-exclusion ability with eosin Y. The number of stained cells was increased when the cells were irradiated at 160 nm, while no such increase was observed in cells irradiated with synchrotron radiation at 220 nm, with a low pressure Hg lamp (predominantly 254 nm), or with gamma-rays of 60Co. These results indicated that the cell surface was injured by irradiation with synchrotron radiation at 160 nm. (author)